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Cenotaph record

John McRae

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Gravestone at UN Cemetery Pusan, Korea for 204368 John McRae. No Known Copyright.

Gravestone at UN Cemetery Pusan, Korea for 204368 John McRae. No Known Copyright.

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    John AWMM
  • Surname
    McRae AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    Korea 204368 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    13 May 1928 AWMM Thames, Coromandel District AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM Hikutaia, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mr Leonard McRae (father), Whangamata, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    Korean War, 1950-1953 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    Korea 204368 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    Korea Mill hand/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details

Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Served with Kayforce 1952-53

    "During the following night, 2 - 3 May, the regiment suffered its first, and only, enemy-inflicted fatal casualties of the year. A heavy bombardment seemed to indicate that an attack on 28 Brigade was imminent, though in the end it fell on neighbouring Canadians and gave the New Zealand gunners a busy night. While operating behind Hill 159, Sergeant R.J. Reid, 162 Battery's signals sergeant, and Gunner John McRae were killed by this enemy shellfire." (McGibbon 1996, vol. 2, p. 338)

    Gunner McRae's sister, Mrs Witarina MacKenzie of Whangamata received the New Zealand Operational Service Medal on his behalf from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence at a presentation at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Thursday 27 November 2003 AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    3 May 1953 AWMM
    Age 24 AWMM
    Korea, Asia AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    United Nations Cemetery, Pusan, Korea AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    NZ Herald, 5 May 1953, p. 8. AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Auckland War Memorial Museum, Hall of Memories. Korea, Malaya-Borneo. AWMM

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    New Zealand in the Korean War. NZHistory online.
    http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/korean-war
    Further Reference
  • References
    • McGibbon, I.C. (1992-1996). New Zealand and the Korean War (Vols. 1-2). Auckland, N.Z.; Wellington, N.Z.: Oxford University Press in association with the Historical Branch, Dept. of Internal Affairs. AWMM
      1996, pp. 338, 371, 407. [photo of funeral service pp. 350-351] AWMM
    • The New Zealand Herald AWMM
      5 May 1953, p. 8. AWMM
    • Nominal rolls - Nominal rolls embarkation K-force [Korea Nominal Roll], Archives New Zealand, Wellington, AAYS 8638 AD1/1433 (R22440250) AWMM
    • Chamberlain, H. (2013). The New Zealand Korea Roll : honouring those who served in the New Zealand Armed Forces in Korea, 1950-1957. Wellington, N.Z.: Author. AWMM

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